[simple_tooltip content=’5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him,
6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.’]Matthew 8:5-13[/simple_tooltip]; [simple_tooltip content=’24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”’]John 20:24-29[/simple_tooltip]
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
When I first became aware that the Lord did miracles today, I realized I had missed out on the supernatural in my Christian life. That made me want to make up for lost time by immediately receiving everything I could. I heard about visions, dreams, and angels appearing to people—and I wanted all of that! So I started praying for those things to happen to me. However, the Lord used Scriptures like the verses above to stop me in my tracks.
Jesus said that the greatest faith He’d ever seen was a faith that didn’t have to see to believe. This faith was in the Word of God alone (Matt. 8:10). He told Thomas that he had believed because he had seen, but there was a greater blessing on those who believed by faith and not by sight. This means that we will walk in a greater degree of faith the more we are directed solely by God’s Word.
That settled it for me. I wanted God’s best. I knew that without faith it was impossible to please Him, and I wanted to operate in the highest form of faith. That’s not to say I refuse visions and dreams—I’ve had both—but they are no longer my focus. God’s Word is supernatural enough. If the Lord chooses to use an angel or some other means to speak to me, I’ll listen, but I no longer require these things. God’s Word needs no additional confirmation; it is the absolute authority in my life.
Today why don’t you decide to walk in faith and believe God’s promises no matter what you see or hear or experience. Have faith like the centurion, the faith that made Jesus marvel.
